Curriculum

Clinical

Renal fellows receive clinical training in all aspects of nephrology. Active sites include two hospitals as its base – the University Hospital (UAMS) and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). In addition, we treat adult patients in the Burn Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). We successfully operate an active transplant program at UAMS, continuity clinics, chronic hemodialysis units and home dialysis programs.

Research

Our faculty members have active, ongoing funded research programs and provide hands-on research experience to fellows. Major areas of clinical research include cardiovascular complications in CKD, pre-dialysis education, telemedicine, AKI with emphasis on biomarkers and CKD progression. Ongoing basic science projects investigate molecular mechanisms of renal injury and repair. Several innovative directions include the role of carbamylated LDL and catalytic iron in cardiovascular disease.

Transplant

The UAMS transplant program began in 1964 and performs living and deceased donor kidney transplantation. There is an active liver transplant program and plans for a kidney-pancreas program. The transplant program truly works as a team with very close working relationships between faculty, fellows, coordinators and surgeons. The renal fellow receives excellent training in the pre/post-transplant and in the inpatient/outpatient settings.

Dialysis

Acute dialysis units are based at UAMS, CAVHS and ACH provide inpatient hemodialysis, CRRT and peritoneal dialysis. There is ample opportunity to become well versed in the placement of temporary dialysis catheters. Chronic, outpatient in-center hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are provided at the CAVHS and DaVita units. Since 2007 we have a home hemodialysis program. Fellows are trained in all forms of acute and chronic dialysis modalities when graduating from our program.